Landscapes of Tang Yin
(1470-1523): Example of Taoist Painting

Taoism has had a strong influence
on Chinese art, especially on landscape painting,
as exemplified in the
paintings of Tang Yin
(1470-1523).
Nature is shown as omnipresent, overshadowing the human figure.
It exemplifies the Taoist idea that Nature pervades and
surrounds us, and that humans are not in control Nature. In honor
of the changefulness and mobility of Nature, Taoist artists always leave their
works unfinished.
This
practice also invites the viewer to become a co-creator
of the piece, as
if a
participant within Nature. Even the most
elaborate pieces of Taoist art consists merely of brush strokes
in
varying shades of watered black
on white paper.
Empty space
is critically important, because emptiness has its own
kind of fullness.
The ink used
is "watered" ink, reiterating the meaning and importance of flowing
water.

Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water
Yet nothing is better at
overcoming the hard and strong
This is because nothing can replace it
That
the weak overcomes the strong
And the soft overcomes the hard
Everybody in the
world knows
But cannot put into practice (Tao Te Ching verse 78)